Machine for testing articles having parts subject to centrifugal action



Aug. 8, 1944.

. MEISTER ING PARTS Filed Oct. 15, 1942 2 ShelZS-Sheel'I 1 SUBJECT TO CENTRIFUGAL, ACTION L MACHINE FQR TESTING ARTICLES HAV Aug. 8, 1944.

L. MEISTER MACHINE' FOR TESTING ARTICLES HAVING PARTS SUBECT TO CENTRIFUGAL ACTION Filed Oct. l5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l4Z' nl 4/ T n@ 4 lo. 7 L? l 27 /o /5 /5 5.9 57 le 5 /5 /6 '55 I6 43 le le A-; .5" 3 3 Il Patented Aug. 8, 1944 MACHINE FOR TESTING ARTICLES HAVING PARTS SUBJECT TO CENTRIFUGAL AC- TION Leo Meister, IrvingtomN. J. Application October 15, 1942, Serial No. 462,193

(c1. vs -51) (Granted under the act or March 3, 188s, as

2 Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O.

that they explode or detonate on, or very shortly after, impact. In this type the explosion or detonation is initiated from a primer which is fired by some typepf tiring pin. Before the projectile is fired from or loaded into a. cannon,

' this firing pin is locked into inoperative (disarming or non-arming) position by means which will release the firing pin from its locked condition at some time between the time the projectile starts its motion and the time it reaches its target. This arming and disarming means is very frequently so designed that it may be controlled -from the centrifugal action produced by the rotation of the projectile about its longitudinal axis, this motion being imparted to the projectile by the rifling in the artillery piece. This means, firing pin, primer and other related parts are associated in an assembled unit called a fuze.

The arming and non-arming means referred to above frequently take the form of two plungers, diametrically' opposite and urged towards, and frequently into contact with each other, by a coil spring back of each plunger. When the .ixvngers are` in their innermost position they engage with and lock the firing pin, so that the latter is incapable of then striking the primer. When the projectile turns about its longitudinal ais at the intended speed, the plungers are urged outwardly against the springs back of each of them, owing to centrifugal action. After the plungers have been spread apart by the 'centrifugal action, the firing pin is unlocked from inoperative position or condition and is vthen in condition to strike the primer when the projectile strikes against a body. The machine of the present invention is particularly concerned with testing the type of fuze or fuze part which is armed by centrifugal action.

In these fuze units with which the present invention is concerned, the aforementioned plungers, or at least the inner ends thereof, may be at least at some stage of its assembly. That is to seen by looking through' the fuze unit at one end, l

say, some sort of passage exists from end to end of the fuze or part, through which rays of light may pass. When the plungers occupy their innermost or non-armed position, this passage way for light is wholly or partially blocked; and when they are spread apart in armed or arming position, the passageway is unblocked, and light may pass from end to end of the fuze or fuze part. It is especially with the testing of this type of fuze or part` that the present invention iinds useful application, although Jit may be applied in other situations where like or analogous conditions prevail.

For the purpose of disclosing the invention, it is described below as applied to the type of artillery fuze or fuze part delineated above.

Among the objects of the present invention is vto provide apparatus by the-use of which the rotation of a projectile produced by riing can be simulated, and the fu'ze or fuze part subjected to this rotation to test or observe the operation of the arming and non-arming component or components before assembly with other components or application to a projectile.

In general, the invention comprises subjecting the fuze or fuze part to rotation at a speed at which it is intended that the fuze should be armed, and thereafter at a speed at which it is intended that the fuze should not be armed, i. e., non-armed, and utilizing the position or relative positions of the arming or non-arming means under these conditions of 'rotation to give positive indication when an arming or non-arming component of a fuze or fuze part is or is not functioning properly under the conditions of rotation stated above. As applied to two oppositely disposed plungers, which are spring pressed towards each other and which lock the firing pin in inoperative condition when the spring pressed plungers occupy their innermost position, the invention comprises rotating the fuzes or fuze parts at a chosen speed at which it is intended that the plungers should spread apart and unlock the tiring pin, and thereafter rotating the fuzes or fuze parts at a chosen speed at which it is intended that the centrifugal force shall be insufiicient to spread the plungers apart to unlock the firing pin for action, and from the position of the plungers under these two conditions of rotation obtaining an indication whether the plluigers are operating as intended under the two conditions of rotation.

In the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which the same numeral indicates the same part in the several gures,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, however with certain parts in elevation.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 with most of the parts shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a schematic view showing how certain parts of the machine areinterrelated with an illustrative circuit including photoelectric cells and relays. v

Referring to the drawings, a base I is provided as a support for parts of the machine. A standard 2 is secured to base I by means of screws 3 and serves as a bearing for the vertical shaft 4 which is integral with or attached to disk 5. Ball bearings 5 may be placed in a suitable race between the lower end of the shaft 4 land the bottom of the bearing in standard 2. The shaft 4, turning in the bearing in standard 2, acts as a rotating support for the disk l which is attached to it.

As shown, he shaft 4 is somewhat longer than 4the depth of the bearing in the standard 2, so

that the under side of the disk 5 is spaced somewhat from the top of the standard 2. A ratchet wheel 1 having a hub I is fitted on the shaft 4 between the under side of the disk 5 and the top of the standard 2. A set screw l is provided in the hub l to fix the ratchet wheel 'I on shaft 4. Therefore, disk 5, ratchet wheel 1, and shaft 4 rotate together on a vertical axis as one member. v

-As will be seen from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2, the vertical axis of the shaft 4 passes through the center of ratchet wheel 1 and the center of diskv l.

The disk 5 carries a plurality of tubular members or holders I which pass through the disk 5 and which are xed toit. The tubular members III are arranged in the form of a circle and are positioned near the outer edge of the disk 5, the center of this circle being atthe center of the disk 5. These tubular members extend for most of their length below the disk 5. They are each provided with a shoulder II at their bottom so as to provide a central round opening smaller than the opening at their tops. The interiors of these tubular members are finished to act as bearings for the spindles I2. There is a spindle I2 fitted in each tubular member Il, and each spindle may be rotated in its corresponding tubular member. Each spindle I2 comprises a cylindrical body I portion having an opening I3 which passes longitudinally from end to end of the spindle. The longitudinal axis of the opening I3 coincides with the longitudinal axis of the spindle. Each spindle is reduced in diameter at the lower end to form a shoulder I4, the reduced end I passing through and below the opening at the lower end of the tubular member III. The'ends I5 of the spindles I2 extend far enough below the bottom of the tubular members to receive friction drive wheels I6, one friction drive wheel being fixed on each spindle. All of the friction drive wheels I5 are in the same horizontal plane.

Bali bearings I1 are shownbetween the shoulder I4, of the spindles I2, and the shoulder II of the tubular members III. The spindles, at their tops, are provided with a tapered socket IB, shaped to receive a fuze or fuze part I9 to be tested according to the invention. This socket is to be shaped, of course, according to the shape of the article desired to be held therein. As will be understood from the foregoing all the spindles and their coacting tubular members III are of like construction.

The ratchet wheel 1 is rotated intermittently,

' tion, the spindles I2 with their coacting tubular members I0 are moved, step by step, a circumferential distance equal to the circumferential distance between the centers of the spindles. The number of teeth on the ratchet wheel 'I may be made different from seventeen according to need or the design of the machine.

each motion of it being the circumferential dis- The disk 5 is provided with notches 2l in its rim. The reduced end 22 of the plunger 23 of the plunger electromagnet 24 engages in these notches 2I at the end of each step by step motion of the disk 5whereby the disk 5 is locked temporarily. When the next step of the motion is started the plunger is removed from the notch, with which it has been in engagement, and engages with the next notch presented to it in the rotation of the disk 5. The 'plunger electromagnet 24 may be of any suitable construction including a solenoid within which the plunger 23 slides. A coil spring 25 is positioned in the solenoid behind the plunger 23 to urge the plunger towards the disk 5. From the construction shown, it will be seen that when the electromagnet 24 is energized, reduced end 22 of the plunger 23, acting as a stop for the disk 5, is drawn away from the disk 5, thereby releasing the disk for motion. The electromagnet 24 is secured to and held in position by a bracket 28 secured to base I of the machine. l

As heretofore' mentioned electromagnet 2li is used to accomplish the step by step motion of the ratchet wheel 1 and of the disk 5 moving therewith. This electromagnet is of the type which includes a solenoid having a plunger which moves axially of the solenoid. The plunger of plunger 21 within the solenoid thereof, the pawl i 29 moves the ratchet wheel 1l one tooth. At the moment when electromagnet 20 is energized to move the ratchet wheel 1, electromagnet 24 is also energizedl to remove the stop 22 from` the notch 2|, with which the stop is engaged, so that the ratchet wheel, and the disk 5 may be moved. Electromagnet 20 is Secured to and held in position by an arm 34 which engages around stand- `ard 2. Set screw 35 fixes the position of arm 34 relative to standard 2.

Two stations are established along the circular path of the spindles I2. Fo;` purposes of reference these` are respectively called station A and station B. The positions of these stations are indicated by the arrow heads of the lead lines of the letters A and B appearing in Figure 1.

An electric lamp 36 is placed below, and spaced from, the spindle I2 and friction drive wheel I6 at station A. Electric lamp 36 is secured within ahousing 31 which is completely closed against the passage of light, except'throughv an opening 38' in its top. The lamp 36 and opening 38 are so positioned With respect to the spindles I2 that light passes through the opening 38 into the longitudinal opening I3 in a spindle l2 when a spindle I2 is at station A. Another electric'` lamp 39 (see circ lt in Figure 4) is similarly arranged in a. housing below the spindle at station B. Light entering the spindles I2 at stations A and B'will pass completely through them if its passage is not blocked by some portion ofthe fuzes or fuze parts which are positioned in the cavities.

or sockets I8 at the tops of spindles I2.

' The numerals 40 and 4I indicate two housings supported a short distance above spindles I2 and the fuzes or fuze parts at stations A and B respectively. -These housings each contain a photoelectric cell and'relay, the circuit of which they form part being diagrammatically shown by the usual symbols in Figure 4.` The two housings 40 and 4I are secured to a bracket 42 which bridges a'part of the disk 5, and which is attached to base I of the machine by screws `43. `The bottom of each housing has an opening through which 46 which are normally open, when no light passes to photoelectric 44, are closed by the relay 45 when light passes to the photoelectric cell. At station B, light passes from the lamp 39 into the opening I3 in the spindle I2, but is stopped by the plungers in the fuze or fuze part before it is able to reach the photoelectric cell 41; and as a' consequence the contacts at 49, which under normal conditions are closed, remain closed. In the event that light fails to reach thephotoelectric cell 44 at station A, that is to say, when the speed of rotation of the spindle I-2 fails to spread apart the plungers of the fuze or fuze part, the contacts at 46 remain open, and the electromagnetsand 24 are not energized. Likewise the electromagnets 28 and 24 are not energized when light strikes photoelectric cell 41 at station B light passing through the spindles I2 and fuzes or fuze parts, at stations A and B, may come into contact with the photoelectric cells.

The circuit shown in Figure 4 for purposes of illustration may be supplied with alternating current electricity. The electric lamps previously referred to are indicated by the numerals 36 and 39 in this figure. Numerals 44 and 45 indicate respectivelythe photoelectric cell and relay for station A. When relay 45 is energized, the circuit is closed at the contacts 46. The relay 45 is energized when light from the electric lamp 36 acts upon photoelectric cell 44, and when light ceases to' act upon the photoelectric cell 44, the

relay 45 is deenergized and the contacts 46 separate. Numerals'41 and 48 indicate respectively the photoelectric cell and relay for station B.

' Relay 48 acts oppositely to relay 45, in that when 52and 53 may be provided for the lamps 36 and 39. It is to be .understood that any circuit including'photoelectric cells and relays suitable for controlling the action of electromagnets 26 and 24 in the manner herein described may be used instead of the circuit illustrated. v

At station A the spindle I2 is driven at a number of revolutions per minute at which it is intended that the plungers of the fuze or fuze p art y shall spread apart, while at station B the spindle I2 is driven at a number of, revolutions per minute at which it is intended that the said plungers shall not be spread apart.. 'Ihis driving of the spindles at the two stations may be accomplished in various ways, one of these being illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and described below.

When a spindle I2 is at station A and they plungers of the fuze or fuze part are spread apart, light passes from the lamp 36 below it through the opening I3 in the spindle and upon the photoelectric cell 44 in the housing 48. Thecontacts accompanied byopening of the contacts at 49.

The driving of spindles I2 at stations A and B may be accomplished by means of friction drive from `an electric motor in housing 54 secured to base I of the machine. The shaft 55 of the motor carries two friction drive wheels 56 and 51, the latter being smaller in diameter than the former. Drive wheel 56 makes driving contact with a friction idler wheel 58 which transmits motion by friction to wheel I6 of spindle I2 at station A. At station B, rotary motion is transmitted to wheel I6 by the idler friction wheel 59 which receives its motion from wheel 51 on the motor shaft 55.' The speeds ofthe wheelsl I6, and therefore of the spindles, at stations A and B may be chosen or-xed at any desired value according to the thing being tested with the machine.

Operation.--The fuze parts I9 to be tested are placed in sockets I8 of spindles I2. At station w tended that the said plungers shall not separate,

connected with the photoelectric cells. Switches and therefore remain in theirnon-arming position. When the plungers in the fuze part separate at station A, light passes from the lamp 36 to-photoelectric cell 44, and relay '45 is energized and closes contacts 46. The closing of contacts 46 enables electric currentto pass in series through electromagnets 20 and 24 to energizethem, provided the contacts at 49 are -also closed.

lContacts at 49 will be closed provided the rotation of the fuze part I9 on spindle I2 does not spread the plungers of the fuze part apart at f station B to permit the passage of light from larnp 39 to photoelectric cell'41. If light reches'photoelectric cell 41, relay 48 would be energized and the contacts at 49 would be separated, thus preventing the passage of current through electromagnets 20 and 24. A It will therefore be seen that electromagnets 28 and 24 will be energized only when light passes to photoelectric cell 44 at station A accompanied by failure'of light at station B to reach photoelectric cell 41. Under these conditions, the

plungers in the fuze parts are occupying their intended positions under the conditions of rotation vselected for stations A and B.

When the electromagnets 20 and 24 are energized, stop 22 is removed from the notch 2I it engages, and plunger21 pulls rod 28 and pawl 29 so as to turn the ratchet wheel 1 one tooth counter-clockwise. This causes the spindle I2 which was heretofore at station A to be advanced to station B and another spindle to be advancedto tric cell 41 at station B, then the electromagnets wil1 advance another spindle -I2 to station A.

It will therefore be seen that any fuze part which does not operate as intended at stations A and B will prevent the energizing of electromagnets 20 and 24 and the machine or disk 5 will stop.

I claim: i

t 1. A machine for testing articles which have a passage through which light ,may pass when the said articles are rotated at suiilcient speed, the

said machine comprising conveying vmeans for moving the said articles in succession to two stations, means for rotating an article at one of said chosen speed, a photoelectric cell -for eachof said stations for .receiving light which may pass through said passage in the article rotating at each of said stations, means for introducing light into said passage at each of said stations, and driving means for said conveying means under control of both of said photoelectric cells.

2. A machine for testing articles which have a `passage through which light may pass when thesaid articles are rotated at suiiicient speed, the said machine comprising conveying vmeans for movingthe said articles in succession to two stations, means for rotating an article at one of said stations at a chosen speed and for rotating said article at the other of said stations at a 'different chosen speed, a photoelectric cell for each of said stations for receiving, light which may pass through said passage in the article'rotating at eachof said stations, means for introducing light into said passage at each of said Y ,Y

' stations, and electromagnetic driving means -ior stations at a chosen speed and for rotating said article at the other of said stations at a diierent said conveying means under control of both oi' said photoelectric cells.

, LEO MEISTER 

